Hello Family,
Well things are going pretty good for me here on the other side of the world. OK, so on Tuesday we were doing some finding time and we doored into this man who had really strong beliefs that their God was in the nature and that there wasn't a life after this. Anyways, we talked to him for a couple minutes and I could tell it wasn't going anywhere. I bore my testimony that God is our Father in Heaven and that there really was a life after this one. He disagreed with me obviously but then I had him promise that after this life when he sees me that he will come and talk to me and that I would teach him. He laughed and agreed to do so. I thought it was a funny experience.
On Wednesday we did a chalk display of the Plan of Salvation and that was pretty fun. I was talking with as many people as I could. I stopped these two couples and one of the guys just put up his hand and then I heard the wife say, in English, "he's speaking German" then I was like "hey wait, I speak english too and I asked them where they were from and they said Washington. I said you have got to be kidding so am I. They didnt believe me at the moment so they asked me where at and then I said Tri-Cities and then they were like, "Oh cool. We are from Spokane." Pretty sweet. I don't remember their names or anything but still pretty cool.
So I got to put my farming skills to work a little this week. No, I didnt get to work on a farm or drive tractor but this guy was trying to fix his car lock and he needed to take the whole handle out he had the inside door panel off. So we stopped and Elder Brown tried to help him. I just stood there and watched. After about 10-15 minutes of them both trying to figure it out they gave up. Then I asked the man if I could try. I knew I could get it out. Anyways, he was like try if you want but you aint gonna get it out. So I took my backpack off and reached my hand inside the door and in less than a minute I handed the handle and lock over to him. I loved it because I pulled my hand out and I had grease all over my arm. Reminded me of the farm.
Yesterday we were doing doors in a Hochhäuse (big apartment building) We went to the first door and I could smell something rancid. The door opened and this man was standing there without a shirt on, as most times that is the case. All of a sudden it felt like someone had slapped me in the face with a gag stick. I wanted to puke. The smell was absolutely terrible. I have never smelt something so bad in my life. I was so stinking close to turning around and walking outside. Luckily, he didn't have us come in but I was seriously sick for 15 minutes or so. The cool thing about it though was he was an albino! Crazy! I have never seen an albino person before. Pretty crazy.
I want to end this letter with a very awesome experience I had this week. All of our investigators are really being pretty weak with keeping their commitments and letting us set up appointments. It was Saturday that we had a day totally devoted to Finding Time. After having a week of mostly finding time I was not really too excited to do even more. That morning in my personal prayers I asked my Heavenly Father for help and that someone we talked to would be ready in some way and want to hear the gospel. Every door we knocked on and every person we talked to I pictured them in my mind being being ready and wanting to hear the message of the restoration. Throughout the whole day I was praying. We had no success until about six o'clock, when we were doing doors we had this lady come up to us and asked us if we could come talk with her and her friend. She spoke English. We said of course and I was thinking in my head, "You have got to be kidding me". We started teaching the man in German and the the lady began to ask me questions in English. Elder Brown continued teaching the man while I spoke with the lady. I began to teach her the message of the Restoration. I got emotional and it was because of the Spirit. I knew at this point she could feel the spirit. I asked her what her feelings were and she explained to me, all day she had felt tense and nervous but she said because of you sharing this "I feel at peace". I testified to her that it wasn't me but it was the spirit of God. She began to tear up and cry. The spirit was so strong. That experience alone strenghtened my testimony. I know that because I was doing the best I could and was totally relying on the Lord that day that my prayers were answered. It was an amazing experience for me. They were ready to hear the message.
I am reading the conference talks and I love to read what the Prophet and his apostles say. I know that it is from God and that it is amazing. The gospel keeps us free. In Elder Christofferson's talk he said, "Obedience gives us greater control over our lives, greater capacity to come and go, to work and create". That is so true. As we are obedient to the commandments which have been given to us it makes us free and there is nothing that can hold us back.
Thanks for your love and support and I look forward to getting the deodorant. I am on my last stick.
"No Regrets"
Elder Merrill
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Not Yet!
Dear Family,
No I don't stink yet, Thankfully. The weather has been a little cooler so it's not as bad. The humidity is amazing though. It is really sick. All my clothes stick to me. Not really fun.
Well this past week was really quite a good week. We were able to find a new investigator, have Zone-Conference, and another Street Preach. I am doing good here and am working way hard. So since I got Elder Brown I have been like the Senior companion. It's not a calling that president gives or anything but its been kind of different. I have been the one to carry around the cell phone and make all the calls. It's been good for me I have really learned a lot as I must force myself to make decisions.
I have really tried to follow the words of President Hinckley's father "Forget yourself and get to work!" I have tried to really use those words of council this cycle. I had the opportunity to take a Mission Prep class at BYU and my Professor taught us when you or your companion is home-sick to really push through it and go to work. We have been working hard. I strive to focus all of our conversations on our investigators and the mission itself. It's really been good. I love Elder Brown and am grateful for the things I am learning from him and with him.
On Wednesday after Zone Conference we were able to do some finding time after we got home. We continued working on a street that we had been doing earlier. We were at an apartment and I had decided to call it a night after the next set of doors. We klingled through and the very last klingle we talked with a Filipino man at his door. As Elder Brown was talking to him I felt really impressed to share with him the message of the Restoration and Joseph Smith. I recited the first vision and I was as sincere as I could be. He let us in. We taught him the end of the first lesson and committed him to reading and praying. We asked for a return appointment to talk about his experience and he said "OK, How about Friday?" It was wonderful. We returned and taught him more. He had kept his commitments and agreed to meet again. I am grateful for the Lord blessing us and helping us to become those men that he needs. I still have a long ways to go but I am giving it my all. Wow, so being a missionary is so awesome! I am able to have some pretty sweet experiences and grow from them.
We ate with a family on Sunday and he is an American. We had STEAK. They have steak here in Germany but he made some 18-20 oz. steaks for each of us. Quite a lot of meat. We are working with this part member family right now and the first time we went over there the wife grabbed her cigarettes and went up-stairs. The next time she talked with us a little more and then it has just been progressing since. She invited us over for dinner this week to meet her mother. It's way sweet. I am going to try to share a spiritual thought with them this week. It's amazing how people warm up to you. Germans are a little crazy though. We talked to this lady. She said she has been living next to her neighbors for 3 years and she didn't know them. Crazy. Germans don't like to talk with people they don't know which makes missionary work hard some times but it's moving right along.
In the past two weekends our mission has had 5 baptisms and 5 more baptismal dates set. It's great to see others in the mission have success. I am grateful for the many blessings in my life and I know that the Lord is blessing me like none other.
Please take lots of pictures this summer and make sure you send them. Kiersten, do you have that kids information from Germany cuz that'd be way sweet to give it as a referral. When are you going to the Cabin? Who are you taking? Take pictures and have extra fun for me.
Well, Gotta go. Thanks for all your love and support. Thanks for the deodorant too, I think it will probably get here next week but thanks. Keep sharing the gospel and study the scriptures. I was reading one of President Monson's talks from conference this morning and he said that every priesthood holder needs to be studying the scriptures every day. Boys, make sure you make a conscience effort in doing that. I really wish that I would have done a better job studying when I was younger. Thanks for your love and support. Keep the letters coming.
"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill
No I don't stink yet, Thankfully. The weather has been a little cooler so it's not as bad. The humidity is amazing though. It is really sick. All my clothes stick to me. Not really fun.
Well this past week was really quite a good week. We were able to find a new investigator, have Zone-Conference, and another Street Preach. I am doing good here and am working way hard. So since I got Elder Brown I have been like the Senior companion. It's not a calling that president gives or anything but its been kind of different. I have been the one to carry around the cell phone and make all the calls. It's been good for me I have really learned a lot as I must force myself to make decisions.
I have really tried to follow the words of President Hinckley's father "Forget yourself and get to work!" I have tried to really use those words of council this cycle. I had the opportunity to take a Mission Prep class at BYU and my Professor taught us when you or your companion is home-sick to really push through it and go to work. We have been working hard. I strive to focus all of our conversations on our investigators and the mission itself. It's really been good. I love Elder Brown and am grateful for the things I am learning from him and with him.
On Wednesday after Zone Conference we were able to do some finding time after we got home. We continued working on a street that we had been doing earlier. We were at an apartment and I had decided to call it a night after the next set of doors. We klingled through and the very last klingle we talked with a Filipino man at his door. As Elder Brown was talking to him I felt really impressed to share with him the message of the Restoration and Joseph Smith. I recited the first vision and I was as sincere as I could be. He let us in. We taught him the end of the first lesson and committed him to reading and praying. We asked for a return appointment to talk about his experience and he said "OK, How about Friday?" It was wonderful. We returned and taught him more. He had kept his commitments and agreed to meet again. I am grateful for the Lord blessing us and helping us to become those men that he needs. I still have a long ways to go but I am giving it my all. Wow, so being a missionary is so awesome! I am able to have some pretty sweet experiences and grow from them.
We ate with a family on Sunday and he is an American. We had STEAK. They have steak here in Germany but he made some 18-20 oz. steaks for each of us. Quite a lot of meat. We are working with this part member family right now and the first time we went over there the wife grabbed her cigarettes and went up-stairs. The next time she talked with us a little more and then it has just been progressing since. She invited us over for dinner this week to meet her mother. It's way sweet. I am going to try to share a spiritual thought with them this week. It's amazing how people warm up to you. Germans are a little crazy though. We talked to this lady. She said she has been living next to her neighbors for 3 years and she didn't know them. Crazy. Germans don't like to talk with people they don't know which makes missionary work hard some times but it's moving right along.
In the past two weekends our mission has had 5 baptisms and 5 more baptismal dates set. It's great to see others in the mission have success. I am grateful for the many blessings in my life and I know that the Lord is blessing me like none other.
Please take lots of pictures this summer and make sure you send them. Kiersten, do you have that kids information from Germany cuz that'd be way sweet to give it as a referral. When are you going to the Cabin? Who are you taking? Take pictures and have extra fun for me.
Well, Gotta go. Thanks for all your love and support. Thanks for the deodorant too, I think it will probably get here next week but thanks. Keep sharing the gospel and study the scriptures. I was reading one of President Monson's talks from conference this morning and he said that every priesthood holder needs to be studying the scriptures every day. Boys, make sure you make a conscience effort in doing that. I really wish that I would have done a better job studying when I was younger. Thanks for your love and support. Keep the letters coming.
"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill
Handwritten Letter
We received this letter from Kyle on Saturday and I got a kick out of it and so I thought I would post it.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm sorry to put this on you right now but I need deodorant A.S.A.P. I'm not joking. I'll tell you what I would like. If Costco still sells the Degree stuff that dad uses I would like that or if not that Axe. I'm really sorry to do this to you but I'm on my last stick and Europeans don't use deodorant and the stuff they have is pathetic. All it is is a little bottle of this roll on stuff. I'm sorry but I didn't find this out 'till today. If you could please send a small box of 10-15 sticks that would be so wonderful.
Well p-day is about done with but I hope this week we can have some sweet stories for you. We have zone conference tomorrow which I'm really excited for. Oh, I will be getting my German driver's license this cycle which is pretty cool. Well, the language is definitely coming but it is really hard sometimes. I always try to keep a prayer in my heart for Heavenly Father to help me with speaking as well as understanding. He has blessed me so much already. It's really amazing to look back and see how much I've really learned. The mission is kind of tough right now. Right now I'm starting to develop the mentality of not giving up this opportunity for anything. I think the first part of every mission is tough to find that love for the mission. I'm glad to say that I'm "Losing myself in the work."
I am glad for this companionship because I can really focus on loving others and not thinking about myself. I'm happy and healthy. It's really amazing--I don't really understand how people can pass up the opportunity, especially when they have felt the spirit testify of the truth. I am growing and sometimes I feel I'm growing more myself than I am helping others grow. I don't know if that is how it is supposed to work. Hopefully, this part of my mission I can fine-tune those special characteristics and skills to make the other part of the mission a selfless service to all those I speak with.
Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your love and good example for me. There are several missionaries out here who aren't really focused, don't obey rules and what not. It's hard to see it sometimes because lots of the time it seems like they are having more fun and even more success. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing wrong or not doing to find this success. I am really hoping I can find that one investigator who will be the one who is 100% ready. I don't know if I'll ever find them but I sure hope I can have at least one success. If not, I know I will be a success because I have really developed some good habits and become a true disciple of Christ. I'm not perfect but I'm getting better. Love you both.
"No Regrets."
Love your son,
Elder Merrill
p.s. Send that deoderant A.S.A.P. I need it. Thanks, Love you.
Dear Mom and Dad,
I'm sorry to put this on you right now but I need deodorant A.S.A.P. I'm not joking. I'll tell you what I would like. If Costco still sells the Degree stuff that dad uses I would like that or if not that Axe. I'm really sorry to do this to you but I'm on my last stick and Europeans don't use deodorant and the stuff they have is pathetic. All it is is a little bottle of this roll on stuff. I'm sorry but I didn't find this out 'till today. If you could please send a small box of 10-15 sticks that would be so wonderful.
Well p-day is about done with but I hope this week we can have some sweet stories for you. We have zone conference tomorrow which I'm really excited for. Oh, I will be getting my German driver's license this cycle which is pretty cool. Well, the language is definitely coming but it is really hard sometimes. I always try to keep a prayer in my heart for Heavenly Father to help me with speaking as well as understanding. He has blessed me so much already. It's really amazing to look back and see how much I've really learned. The mission is kind of tough right now. Right now I'm starting to develop the mentality of not giving up this opportunity for anything. I think the first part of every mission is tough to find that love for the mission. I'm glad to say that I'm "Losing myself in the work."
I am glad for this companionship because I can really focus on loving others and not thinking about myself. I'm happy and healthy. It's really amazing--I don't really understand how people can pass up the opportunity, especially when they have felt the spirit testify of the truth. I am growing and sometimes I feel I'm growing more myself than I am helping others grow. I don't know if that is how it is supposed to work. Hopefully, this part of my mission I can fine-tune those special characteristics and skills to make the other part of the mission a selfless service to all those I speak with.
Mom and Dad, thank you so much for your love and good example for me. There are several missionaries out here who aren't really focused, don't obey rules and what not. It's hard to see it sometimes because lots of the time it seems like they are having more fun and even more success. Sometimes I wonder what I'm doing wrong or not doing to find this success. I am really hoping I can find that one investigator who will be the one who is 100% ready. I don't know if I'll ever find them but I sure hope I can have at least one success. If not, I know I will be a success because I have really developed some good habits and become a true disciple of Christ. I'm not perfect but I'm getting better. Love you both.
"No Regrets."
Love your son,
Elder Merrill
p.s. Send that deoderant A.S.A.P. I need it. Thanks, Love you.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
July 7, 2009
Dear Family,
It's been pretty crazy this week. It was sad to see Elder Sessions go but I think it will be good for me. My new companion is Elder Brown. He is from Ogden. He was in my last district so we knew each other before. I was really surprised that we are companions. We work pretty well together I think but there are definately some things that I need to improve. He has only been in Germany for almost 6 months. We could possibly be the youngest companionship in the mission. It's sometimes tough for me because sometimes I just get frustrated with myself not being able to speak the language. It's always a new experience getting a new companion because you always have to adapt. It's tough but I'm learning. I love him though. I am grateful for this awesome experience I have here.
So this past week has been really crazy. Daniel is leaving for vacation for 3 stinking weeks. Man I hate that. Right about when they are ready for it, satan has to step in and take him on vacation. This past week we have done a ton of finding time but I actually really enjoy it. We were able to pick up two new investigators but I'm worried that niether one is really quite ready. On Friday we had District meeting and so I was able to meet our new District leader, a new elder, and a new sister to our district. All I have to say is that I absolutely love the senior couple in our District. Their name is the Millers. Pretty sure that I will keep in touch with them after they leave.
Sunday I taught Priesthood. Pretty crazy. I taught out of chapter 9 in preach my gospel. It was pretty sweet though. The members participated a lot and we brought up some good points. I was really nervous about how it was going to go but it was good. Then later that night we had an eating appointment with The Mühlmann family. They are SWEET. They have 4 kids. He served his mission in America and they all know english pretty well. The only one that is not very good is the son who is 15 and the daughter who is 7. We had Tacos which is a delicacy (kind of) but they dont have refried beans or real taco seasoning. It was still good though. A couple from the ward came over and the lady didn't even know what it was or how to make it or eat it. Really funny/ different.
Well this week has been filled with crazy people. One of the nicer things that happened was I got a beer cap thrown at me from an apartment building. Barely missed my face. Pretty crazy. All is well though. I'm healthy, safe, and working hard. Sounds like things are going well for you at home.
Dad how's it using a big-baler now? Well, it was different not celebrating or even seeing any celebration for the 4th of july. I even forgot about it until like half way through the day. Keep having fun and partying. Make sure to go boating as much as you can for me because that's something I miss, especially when it's 95 degrees daily and humider (is that a word) than you can imagine.
Well Take care. Love you all and keep me in your prayers, I need them.
"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill
It's been pretty crazy this week. It was sad to see Elder Sessions go but I think it will be good for me. My new companion is Elder Brown. He is from Ogden. He was in my last district so we knew each other before. I was really surprised that we are companions. We work pretty well together I think but there are definately some things that I need to improve. He has only been in Germany for almost 6 months. We could possibly be the youngest companionship in the mission. It's sometimes tough for me because sometimes I just get frustrated with myself not being able to speak the language. It's always a new experience getting a new companion because you always have to adapt. It's tough but I'm learning. I love him though. I am grateful for this awesome experience I have here.
So this past week has been really crazy. Daniel is leaving for vacation for 3 stinking weeks. Man I hate that. Right about when they are ready for it, satan has to step in and take him on vacation. This past week we have done a ton of finding time but I actually really enjoy it. We were able to pick up two new investigators but I'm worried that niether one is really quite ready. On Friday we had District meeting and so I was able to meet our new District leader, a new elder, and a new sister to our district. All I have to say is that I absolutely love the senior couple in our District. Their name is the Millers. Pretty sure that I will keep in touch with them after they leave.
Sunday I taught Priesthood. Pretty crazy. I taught out of chapter 9 in preach my gospel. It was pretty sweet though. The members participated a lot and we brought up some good points. I was really nervous about how it was going to go but it was good. Then later that night we had an eating appointment with The Mühlmann family. They are SWEET. They have 4 kids. He served his mission in America and they all know english pretty well. The only one that is not very good is the son who is 15 and the daughter who is 7. We had Tacos which is a delicacy (kind of) but they dont have refried beans or real taco seasoning. It was still good though. A couple from the ward came over and the lady didn't even know what it was or how to make it or eat it. Really funny/ different.
Well this week has been filled with crazy people. One of the nicer things that happened was I got a beer cap thrown at me from an apartment building. Barely missed my face. Pretty crazy. All is well though. I'm healthy, safe, and working hard. Sounds like things are going well for you at home.
Dad how's it using a big-baler now? Well, it was different not celebrating or even seeing any celebration for the 4th of july. I even forgot about it until like half way through the day. Keep having fun and partying. Make sure to go boating as much as you can for me because that's something I miss, especially when it's 95 degrees daily and humider (is that a word) than you can imagine.
Well Take care. Love you all and keep me in your prayers, I need them.
"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Good Week
This week was pretty good. On Wednesday I had a split with Elder Hewitt one of our zone leaders. It was a pretty good split. I learned that my German is absolutely terrible. I have been working really hard on my sentence structure and making pretty solid. I pray every morning for help to be able to speak clearly and correctly, and then at night I thank my Heavenly Father for the MIRACLES he has shown unto me. It is amazing to see the gift of tongues in action. I know that i am blessed beyond belief.
Thursday we taught a pretty sweet lesson to Daniel Roßberg. We taught about the priesthood authority and he now realizes that he wasn't baptized by the correct authority. The spirit was strong and he was able to feel it. We told him to pray about the feelings he has had and to ask for a confirmation that baptism is the correct thing to do. In our next appointment we will be trying to set a date for July 18! I am excited. Please pray for him to accept this. I am hoping that we can help him accomplish this covenant.
Friday we had an appointment with a member who is 35 and single. He lives with his Dad and step-mother and is very overweight. He is pretty much addicted to the computer. Apparantly that's all he does. He is very active though. We have it set up that we go on a little walk with him and teach him a lesson. We are doing this to help him get out of the house and because his step-mother is not a member. We hopefully want her to see that we are good young men and that she will eventually listen to our message. This last time she talked to us for a little while which was an improvement from last time.
We do a lot of doors here in this area but we don't get in on new investigators very often. Hopefully this week we can recieve some new investigators. So I have a funny story. This week we were walking towards the bus haltestelle (Bus Stop) and the bus passed us. We still had close to a quarter mile before we would get to the stop. We had an appointment so we needed to catch this bus. We started sprinting and I mean sprinting. Anyways, here in Germany there are no stop signs. There are only yield signs. Well we were running next to this main street and then this car pulled out of a side street in front of us. I thought it was going to stop for us but it didn't. Anyways, I had to jump out into the main road so it didn't hit me but I didn't even stop running or look back. It was way crazy and a funny story. Oh we caught the bus too.
On Saturday we had another ausstellung (street preach) and it was pretty good. It's sadning to see people not happy with their life and it is only because they don't have the gospel. I look at my life and see how happy it makes me and how much hope it brings to life. I am grateful for the examples I have had in my life and want to thank all of them.
Elder Sessions is getting transfered and he will be my new zone leader. There are only like 10 zone leaders in the mission and he is one of them. He will be a good leader. I hope that I will be able to develop the traits he has to make me a better and more effective missionary. I am getting Elder Brown. He was in my Karlsruhe district which is pretty crazy. He is only going into his 5th cycle and me my 3rd. We might be one of the youngest companionships in the mission. I hope we can have success together. Oh ya and this Elder Brown, while he was in high school he worked at this lab and he developed a "cure" for cancer. He owns 17% of the copyright. He says it is still getting fined tuned because only like 1/3 people it works with. He is a very intelligent young man.
Well love you all and wish you all the best this week. Feel free to send me more pictures of the farm, family, and other stuff. I love seeing pictures. you can send them in emails. Love you all and pray for you every night.
"No Regrets"
Love
Elder Merrill
Thursday we taught a pretty sweet lesson to Daniel Roßberg. We taught about the priesthood authority and he now realizes that he wasn't baptized by the correct authority. The spirit was strong and he was able to feel it. We told him to pray about the feelings he has had and to ask for a confirmation that baptism is the correct thing to do. In our next appointment we will be trying to set a date for July 18! I am excited. Please pray for him to accept this. I am hoping that we can help him accomplish this covenant.
Friday we had an appointment with a member who is 35 and single. He lives with his Dad and step-mother and is very overweight. He is pretty much addicted to the computer. Apparantly that's all he does. He is very active though. We have it set up that we go on a little walk with him and teach him a lesson. We are doing this to help him get out of the house and because his step-mother is not a member. We hopefully want her to see that we are good young men and that she will eventually listen to our message. This last time she talked to us for a little while which was an improvement from last time.
We do a lot of doors here in this area but we don't get in on new investigators very often. Hopefully this week we can recieve some new investigators. So I have a funny story. This week we were walking towards the bus haltestelle (Bus Stop) and the bus passed us. We still had close to a quarter mile before we would get to the stop. We had an appointment so we needed to catch this bus. We started sprinting and I mean sprinting. Anyways, here in Germany there are no stop signs. There are only yield signs. Well we were running next to this main street and then this car pulled out of a side street in front of us. I thought it was going to stop for us but it didn't. Anyways, I had to jump out into the main road so it didn't hit me but I didn't even stop running or look back. It was way crazy and a funny story. Oh we caught the bus too.
On Saturday we had another ausstellung (street preach) and it was pretty good. It's sadning to see people not happy with their life and it is only because they don't have the gospel. I look at my life and see how happy it makes me and how much hope it brings to life. I am grateful for the examples I have had in my life and want to thank all of them.
Elder Sessions is getting transfered and he will be my new zone leader. There are only like 10 zone leaders in the mission and he is one of them. He will be a good leader. I hope that I will be able to develop the traits he has to make me a better and more effective missionary. I am getting Elder Brown. He was in my Karlsruhe district which is pretty crazy. He is only going into his 5th cycle and me my 3rd. We might be one of the youngest companionships in the mission. I hope we can have success together. Oh ya and this Elder Brown, while he was in high school he worked at this lab and he developed a "cure" for cancer. He owns 17% of the copyright. He says it is still getting fined tuned because only like 1/3 people it works with. He is a very intelligent young man.
Well love you all and wish you all the best this week. Feel free to send me more pictures of the farm, family, and other stuff. I love seeing pictures. you can send them in emails. Love you all and pray for you every night.
"No Regrets"
Love
Elder Merrill
Sunday, June 28, 2009
June 23, 2009
I spent the week at girl's camp and so I'm just getting around to posting. Thank you to those who have taken the time to write Kyle. I know he really appreciates the encouragement and receiving letters in his mailbox. --Lisa
Hello Mom, Dad, Family, and friends,
This last week was probably and hopefully the hardest week I will ever have (as far as lessons and teaching goes). We were only able to teach one lesson and that was with one of our investigators. I feel blessed though because near the end of the week I realized how lucky I was to even have that lesson. In this lesson we tried to commit them to baptism but the one who is really progressing and wants to learn said that she needed to pray about it. I felt good about her answer but her mother and younger sister said the same thing because they wanted out of the question. Going away from that appointment I felt kind of sour about the whole situation because I wasn't able to get an actual date set. We will have an appointment with her again this week and I really hope that we will be able to get a firm date set. She is ready. She studies everything we ask her to and when I say study I mean study. She writes things down that she finds enlightening and when we follow up with her she teaches us about the chapter and it really is amazing. I would ask you to please pray for her that we will be able to set a date with her. Her name is Alex Orzinski. I really hope that you are able to do this and hope that it helps bring hope to you also by helping me plead with the Lord for the sake of total strangers. I love this work. It is truly amazing. I hope you are still able to pray for Daniel Roßberg also. He was gone all last week so we weren't able to meet with him at all. We have an appointment with him on Thursday and we are going to try to commit him to baptism. This work is moving forward faster than you think. My german is getting better but it is still weak sauce. I have a split tomorrow with Elder Hewitt one of my zone leaders and I am really looking forward to it. I have so much still to learn. Just yesterday I had a pretty cool experience with listening to the Holy Ghost. We were knocking doors but no one was answering. Elder Sessions wanted to leave but I really felt that we needed to stay. Near the end of our time we had planned to be there we knocked on this old man's door. We were able to teach him a part of the second lesson and even though he didn't allow us to come back he was still able to feel the spirit and I feel that we were able to explain and enlighten him more about our Heavenly Father's love for us. Well this week should be a ton better and I'm looking forward to it. Transfer calls are this week but pretty sure I'm safe. I'm not totally sure about Elder Sessions but I will be happy if we stay together. Thanks for your love and support. It's crazy how time flies. Love you all and pray for you everyday. Thank you for your prayers and wish you all the best this week.
"No Regrets"
Love
Elder Merrill
Hello Mom, Dad, Family, and friends,
This last week was probably and hopefully the hardest week I will ever have (as far as lessons and teaching goes). We were only able to teach one lesson and that was with one of our investigators. I feel blessed though because near the end of the week I realized how lucky I was to even have that lesson. In this lesson we tried to commit them to baptism but the one who is really progressing and wants to learn said that she needed to pray about it. I felt good about her answer but her mother and younger sister said the same thing because they wanted out of the question. Going away from that appointment I felt kind of sour about the whole situation because I wasn't able to get an actual date set. We will have an appointment with her again this week and I really hope that we will be able to get a firm date set. She is ready. She studies everything we ask her to and when I say study I mean study. She writes things down that she finds enlightening and when we follow up with her she teaches us about the chapter and it really is amazing. I would ask you to please pray for her that we will be able to set a date with her. Her name is Alex Orzinski. I really hope that you are able to do this and hope that it helps bring hope to you also by helping me plead with the Lord for the sake of total strangers. I love this work. It is truly amazing. I hope you are still able to pray for Daniel Roßberg also. He was gone all last week so we weren't able to meet with him at all. We have an appointment with him on Thursday and we are going to try to commit him to baptism. This work is moving forward faster than you think. My german is getting better but it is still weak sauce. I have a split tomorrow with Elder Hewitt one of my zone leaders and I am really looking forward to it. I have so much still to learn. Just yesterday I had a pretty cool experience with listening to the Holy Ghost. We were knocking doors but no one was answering. Elder Sessions wanted to leave but I really felt that we needed to stay. Near the end of our time we had planned to be there we knocked on this old man's door. We were able to teach him a part of the second lesson and even though he didn't allow us to come back he was still able to feel the spirit and I feel that we were able to explain and enlighten him more about our Heavenly Father's love for us. Well this week should be a ton better and I'm looking forward to it. Transfer calls are this week but pretty sure I'm safe. I'm not totally sure about Elder Sessions but I will be happy if we stay together. Thanks for your love and support. It's crazy how time flies. Love you all and pray for you everyday. Thank you for your prayers and wish you all the best this week.
"No Regrets"
Love
Elder Merrill
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
HAPPY B-DAY PAPPA,
Hey thanks so much for your letter this week. Well that story about Kory made me laugh like none other. I was actually thinking about that a couple weeks ago and how we have never had the four wheeler or motorcycles get put into the ditch. Hopefully, you can laugh about it now. Wow, so this past week our main investigator Daniel went out of town for a whole week which was really too bad. We wanted to set a baptismal date with him but obviously we weren't able to. But we found this family of 3 girls and a single mother and they are pretty sweet. There is one of the daughters that is 20, a "sweet spirit", and GOLDEN. I am pretty sure we are going to try to commit her to baptism. I am so amazed at how fast she is progressing and keeping her commitments. It's so sweet to see them progress. What else happened this week? Not too sure. I have seen how lives have been altered because they don't marry within the church. There are several members in our branch (all men) who their spouses don't come to church because either they don't believe in Christ or don't want anything to do with organized religion. It's really sad. Great men but they could be so much happier if they would have married in the church. Well this last week we had interviews with president and I felt kind of bad for him he seemed to be really stressed out. My interview lasted 5 minutes while the struggling companionships took at least 2 hours for each. Sometimes I feel bad for him. Well I have a couple pictures I'll send in an e-mail but other than that... how does it feel to be 43 (I think)? Well take care and thanks for the email.
"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the letter. Sounds like you and Dad are perfecting Settlers without me. That's good. This week has been kind of rewarding. I would read Dad's letter and put that on the blog because unfortunately I don't want to write things twice. We are working together and having fun. It's been raining here the past couple of days but hopefully it looks like it's done. So I'll be sending some pictures and the ones of the forest--that's how we get from city to city on our bikes. There are little paved ways through the forest which is pretty sweet. Germany is treating me pretty well and I am working hard and doing the best I can. Thanks for your letters every week and tell everyone I say hi. Oh ya, by the way I got a letter from Becca A. the other week and then one from Kortneigh and one from Uncle Ben this week. It's nice to get letters from friends and family. Tell them thanks. I will write them back but you can tell them I appreciate it.
"No Regrets"
Love
Elder Merrill
p.s. Remember that coin I got from that guy in Costco, well this last week I lost it either in a random house, in the church, in a members home, or on the side of the street. It really stinks. I wanted to be able to have that when I go home because not only is it a good reminder but I could give a good lesson with only that coin. STINK
Hey thanks so much for your letter this week. Well that story about Kory made me laugh like none other. I was actually thinking about that a couple weeks ago and how we have never had the four wheeler or motorcycles get put into the ditch. Hopefully, you can laugh about it now. Wow, so this past week our main investigator Daniel went out of town for a whole week which was really too bad. We wanted to set a baptismal date with him but obviously we weren't able to. But we found this family of 3 girls and a single mother and they are pretty sweet. There is one of the daughters that is 20, a "sweet spirit", and GOLDEN. I am pretty sure we are going to try to commit her to baptism. I am so amazed at how fast she is progressing and keeping her commitments. It's so sweet to see them progress. What else happened this week? Not too sure. I have seen how lives have been altered because they don't marry within the church. There are several members in our branch (all men) who their spouses don't come to church because either they don't believe in Christ or don't want anything to do with organized religion. It's really sad. Great men but they could be so much happier if they would have married in the church. Well this last week we had interviews with president and I felt kind of bad for him he seemed to be really stressed out. My interview lasted 5 minutes while the struggling companionships took at least 2 hours for each. Sometimes I feel bad for him. Well I have a couple pictures I'll send in an e-mail but other than that... how does it feel to be 43 (I think)? Well take care and thanks for the email.
"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill
Dear Mom,
Thanks for the letter. Sounds like you and Dad are perfecting Settlers without me. That's good. This week has been kind of rewarding. I would read Dad's letter and put that on the blog because unfortunately I don't want to write things twice. We are working together and having fun. It's been raining here the past couple of days but hopefully it looks like it's done. So I'll be sending some pictures and the ones of the forest--that's how we get from city to city on our bikes. There are little paved ways through the forest which is pretty sweet. Germany is treating me pretty well and I am working hard and doing the best I can. Thanks for your letters every week and tell everyone I say hi. Oh ya, by the way I got a letter from Becca A. the other week and then one from Kortneigh and one from Uncle Ben this week. It's nice to get letters from friends and family. Tell them thanks. I will write them back but you can tell them I appreciate it.
"No Regrets"
Love
Elder Merrill
p.s. Remember that coin I got from that guy in Costco, well this last week I lost it either in a random house, in the church, in a members home, or on the side of the street. It really stinks. I wanted to be able to have that when I go home because not only is it a good reminder but I could give a good lesson with only that coin. STINK
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
